Senior Adviser Young People

The Mayor’s Office

The Mayor's Office is responsible for supporting the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan.

 

It comprises the Mayor, Deputy Mayors and his lead advisors, and is organised into four small units:

• Policy and Delivery (MPDU)
• Communications
• Mayoral Operations
• Political and Public Affairs.

About the role

The Mayor is committed to ensuring that all young people in London, regardless of background, have the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential. Based in the MPDU, this role will work across teams in the Mayor’s Office and City Hall to help coordinate and drive the Mayor’s work for young Londoners. The purpose of this role is to:

 

1. Provide high level support to the Deputy Mayors and Mayoral Appointees across policy areas related to support for young people including in the GLA, MOPAC and VRU; through problem-solving, overseeing implementation and delivery, policy analysis and review, attending meetings, developing, and maintaining internal and external contacts and dealing with correspondence, to assist the Deputy Mayors and Mayoral Appointees fulfil their functions.
2. Represent Deputy Mayors, and Mayoral appointees as appropriate on relevant policy matters within the GLA, GLA Group and with external bodies as required.
3. Provide a steer to teams within the GLA, MOPAC and the VRU on Mayoral priorities and messaging, working with fellow Senior Advisers to ensure Mayoral policy is coordinated and effectively delivered.

 

What your day will look like

• Work with the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit (MPDU) principals, Mayoral Directors and other colleagues to provide advice and support on the delivery of the Mayor’s agenda for young people. Bring greater coordination to policy on young people including supporting the work of the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit. To solve problems and help ensure effective delivery and implementation of existing Mayoral policy.
• Liaise between senior decision makers in the Mayor’s Office, GLA, MOPAC and the VRU to ensure a consistent policy approach is taken across the GLA Group.
• Work with relevant policy teams on behalf of the Mayor’s Office, review policy development and monitor programme delivery on behalf of the Mayoral appointees to give confidence that the Mayor Office’s view and priorities are reflected as necessary and that the Mayor’s priorities are progressing in a timely and effective way.
• Work with colleagues in the Communications and Political Affairs Units of the Mayor’s Office to ensure effective public communication and political engagement around the Mayor’s priorities for young people.
• Keep abreast of relevant external news developments and provide communications advice to Deputy Mayors and Mayoral appointees including commissioning speaking notes, position papers and briefings to support the senior decision-makers in preparation for media interviews, social media and other external communications.
• Edit and draft speeches, reports, correspondence, Mayor’s Questions and briefings on behalf of the Deputy Mayor and Mayoral appointees.
• Work as part of the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit and with other colleagues in the Mayor’s Office to ensure the co-ordinated and effective delivery of the Mayor’s agenda.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

 

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

• Significant experience and proven track record of working within complex political environments
• Proven understanding of policy issues relating to young people.
• Extensive experience of programme and project management working across teams.
• Experience of engaging with stakeholders and managing communications in a political context
• Understanding of the role of the GLA, local and central government

 

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

 

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

 

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

 

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345)

 

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager would be happy to speak to you. Please contact Jamilla Hinds-Brough at Jamilla.HindsBrough@london.gov.uk and Natan Doron at Natan.Doron@london.gov.uk.

 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the glaopdcrecruitment@tfl.gov.uk who support the GLA with recruitment.

 

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

 

If shortlisted you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

 

The interview/assessment dates are to be confirmed.

 

Equality, diversity and inclusion 
London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

 

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

 

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

 

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

 

Benefits
GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

 

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

 

Additional Information
Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

 

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

 

Find out which DBS check is right for your employee - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Full job description can be found below:

 

Job Purpose

1. To provide high level support to Deputy Mayors and Mayoral appointees across policy areas related to support for young people; through problem-solving, overseeing implementation and delivery, policy analysis and review, attending meetings, developing and maintaining internal and external contacts and dealing with correspondence, to assist the Deputy Mayors and Mayoral Appointees fulfil their functions.
2. To represent Deputy Mayors, and Mayoral appointees as appropriate on relevant policy matters within the GLA, GLA Group and with external bodies as required.
3. To provide a steer to teams within the GLA, MOPAC and the VRU on Mayoral priorities and messaging, working with fellow Senior Advisers to ensure Mayoral policy is coordinated and effectively delivered. 

Principal Accountabilities

1. To provide advice and support to Deputy Mayors, Mayoral Appointees, MOPAC and VRU in the policy areas of young people to support them in the delivery of the Mayor’s priorities.
2. Work with the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit (MPDU) principals, Mayoral Directors and other colleagues to provide advice and support on the delivery of the Mayor’s agenda for young people. Bring greater coordination to policy on young people including supporting the work of the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit. To solve problems and help ensure effective delivery and implementation of existing Mayoral policy.
3. Liaise between senior decision makers in the Mayor’s Office, GLA, MOPAC and the VRU to ensure a consistent policy approach is taken across the GLA Group.
4. Work with relevant policy teams on behalf of the Mayor’s Office, review policy development and monitor programme delivery on behalf of the Mayoral appointees to give confidence that the Mayor Office’s view and priorities are reflected as necessary and that the Mayor’s priorities are progressing in a timely and effective way.
5. Keep abreast of relevant external news developments and provide communications advice to Deputy Mayors and Mayoral appointees including commissioning speaking notes, position papers and briefings to support the senior decision-makers in preparation for media interviews, social media and other external communications.
6. Keep abreast of key issues within the policy area and use this information to recommend new workstreams to Deputy Mayors and Mayoral Advisers, as well as support the policy area to develop detailed policy proposals in response to the emerging priorities.
7. Work with colleagues in the Communications and Political Affairs Units of the Mayor’s Office to ensure effective public communication and political engagement around the Mayor’s priorities for young people.
8. Edit and draft speeches, reports, correspondence, Mayor’s Questions and briefings on behalf of the Deputy Mayor and Mayoral appointees.
9. Work as part of the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit and with other colleagues in the Mayor’s Office to ensure the co-ordinated and effective delivery of the Mayor’s agenda.
10. Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
11. Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job and participating in multi-disciplinary cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

 

Key relationships

Accountable to: Mayoral Head of Policy, Mayoral Head of Delivery

Principal contacts: Director of the VRU, Deputy Mayors, Mayoral Directors, other Mayoral advisers and appointees, other members of the Mayor’s Office, policy teams in the GLA, functional bodies and the VRU, internal and external stakeholders.

 

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

• Significant experience and proven track record of working within complex political environments
• Proven understanding of policy issues relating to young people.
• Extensive experience of programme and project management working across teams.
• Experience of engaging with stakeholders and managing communications in a political context
• Understanding of the role of the GLA, local and central government

 

Behavioural Competencies

Building & Managing Relationships 
...is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

 

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support GLA objectives
• Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities
• Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict
• Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect
• Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership

 

Communicating and Influencing 
...is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us.

 

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments
• Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement
• Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation

 

Decision Making

...is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

 

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Makes sound decisions quickly on behalf of the GLA when a situation requires intervention
• Takes responsibility for team decisions, providing rationale when those decisions are questioned
• Involves senior stakeholders early in decisions that impact them
• Analyses organisational risks associated with decisions, including those with long term impacts, before committing to action
• Encourages others in the team to make decisions in their own area of expertise, take appropriate risks and learn from experience

 

Planning and Organising

...is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

 

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Monitors allocation of resources, anticipating changing requirements that may impact work delivery
• Ensures evaluation processes are in place to measure project benefits
• Gains buy-in and commitment to project delivery from diverse stakeholders
• Implements quality measures to ensure directorate output is of a high standard
• Translates political vision into action plans and deliverables

 

Problem Solving
...is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

 

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Clarifies ambiguous problems, questioning assumptions to reach a fuller understanding
• Actively challenges the status quo to find new ways of doing things, looking for good practice
• Seeks and incorporates diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address complex issues
• Initiates consultation on opportunities to improve work processes
• Supports the organisation to implement innovative suggestions

 

Responding to Pressure and Change
...is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.

 

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Clarifies direction and adapts to changing priorities and uncertain times
• Minimises the pressure of change for the directorate, lessening the impact for the team
• Uses change as an opportunity to improve ways of working, encouraging others’ buy-in
• Keeps staff motivated and engaged during times of change, promoting the benefits
• Takes ownership for communicating change initiatives clearly, ensuring smooth implementation

Politically Restricted
This role is ‘politically restricted’ under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989

 

Reasonable adjustment
Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work

 

More Support
If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact resourcingteam@london.gov.uk.